The sudden loss of Mary Ratcliff was devastating to all of us in the Bird Alliance of Oregon community, where she had been a volunteer since 2011. Her contributions to Bird Alliance of Oregon were both deep and broad, and she left an indelible mark. The following remembrances of Mary from staff, fellow volunteers, and birding friends paint a portrait of a passionate person with an unforgettable combination of intelligence, kindness, and enthusiasm.
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$2.5 million was allocated to the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative and High Desert Partnership via the legislature which will provide funding for the collaborative work in the area to continue and will also support Bird Alliance of Oregon’s work to understand reed canarygrass, its effects on birds and macroinvertebrates, and methods for treating reed canarygrass to best support wildlife.
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Birds are beginning their fall migrations, and here at the Wildlife Care Center we’ll start to receive dozens of calls and admissions each day due to window collisions. This is a tragic and avoidable pattern that we see occur every year. Window strikes are consistently among our top five reasons for injury, and last year was number three, behind only cats and cars.
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Bird Alliance of Oregon has a long history of working to advance conservation initiatives that incorporate key tenets of the environmental justice movement. This work is especially important now because we have reached a critical point in terms of environmental damage and social and environmental justice reckoning.
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Oregon’s coastline is blessed with 22 major estuaries, where Oregon’s forests and rivers meet the ocean, and these estuaries are the engines that power salmon, waterbirds, Dungeness crab, oysters, cultural resources, and jobs for many people in coastal communities. It is crucial that Oregon update all their estuary plans to provide the strongest habitat protections possible to ensure a vibrant economy.
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As of July 2023, every Bird Alliance of Oregon trip will include carbon offsets as a member of the Sustainable Travel International. The program also works alongside local communities, engaging travelers, businesses, and policy-makers in responsible practices. Through this work, they aim to combat climate change and empower communities to preserve destinations around the globe.
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This opportunity to work with Bird Alliance of Oregon feels like coming full circle. I am deeply humbled to join an organization that has been shaped by visionary leaders, like Bob Sallinger, and it’s an honor to be a part of this unparalleled community of staff, activists, volunteers, students, and supporters. I look forward to working with you, together for nature.
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We are thrilled to welcome our new conservation director, Quinn Read, to the Portland Bird Alliance of Oregon flock. Quinn has been a major player in the Oregon environmental movement for more than a decade. Whether she’s collaborating with partners or fighting down in Salem, we’re excited for Quinn’s leadership to help continue Portland Bird Alliance of Oregon’s 121 legacy of protecting the natural world.
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“Gifting our students the opportunity to connect with land through the traditional lifeways practice of ‘pulling cedar’ provided them with a more meaningful understanding and respect for the landscape,” shared Gary Westley, staff lead for the N8tive Club.
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In recent years recreational drone use has skyrocketed, reflecting a nationwide trend. This in turn has led to increasing disturbances to birds, marine mammals, and other wildlife. Such disturbances have been documented to negatively impact nesting success of many bird species.
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